Summer in the Psalms - Week 2: “When I Need God's Guidance”

May 31, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When the Picture Lies: Trusting God’s Full View

A partial glimpse often distorts reality. Like the girl holding matches or the man stepping into traffic, assumptions based on incomplete information lead to disaster. Life’s complexities demand more than human perspective. God sees every angle—past, present, and future—and guides with perfect clarity. Trusting Him means releasing our limited understanding to embrace His wisdom. Surrender the need to control the narrative. Let His full picture reshape your choices. [35:30]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you clinging to a partial view of your circumstances? How might inviting God’s perspective soften your need for certainty?

Day 2: A Reliable Guide, Not Just a Roadmap

Maps inform, but guides transform. A Tokyo traveler doesn’t need static directions—they need a local who knows hidden gems and safe paths. God isn’t a dispenser of lifeless instructions; He’s a relational guide who walks beside you. His guidance isn’t about handing over a plan but deepening a partnership. The more you know His character, the more you’ll recognize His voice in the chaos. [37:44]

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4–5, ESV)

Reflection: Are you seeking God’s answers more than His presence? What step could help you prioritize relationship over results today?

Day 3: The “I” Problem: Letting God Empty Our Cup

Sin centers on “I”—my plans, my control, my pride. Like a cup too full to receive fresh water, self-sufficiency blocks God’s guidance. David’s plea—“Remember not the sins of my youth”—reveals the freedom in admitting our limits. Forgiveness isn’t just about erasing guilt; it’s about emptying our hands to grasp God’s. Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s making space for His strength. [53:24]

“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.” (Psalm 25:11, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life feels too full of “I” to invite God’s input? How might confession create room for His direction?

Day 4: Healthy Fear, Intimate Friendship

Fearing God isn’t cowering—it’s awe that softens pride into reverence. A child respects a parent’s wisdom without terror; so we honor God’s holiness while resting in His love. This holy fear births intimacy. Those who tremble at His greatness gain access to His secrets. Friendship with God starts when we stop demanding and start listening. [01:01:48]

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14, ESV)

Reflection: Do you fear others’ opinions more than missing God’s purpose? How might reverent awe shift your priorities this week?

Day 5: Wanting the Guide, Not Just the Guidance

David’s final cry—“I take refuge in you”—shifts from seeking directions to craving presence. God’s goal isn’t to hand you a five-year plan but to walk with you through every uncertain step. Maps expire; guides adapt. His companionship in the confusion is the greater gift. True guidance isn’t a destination—it’s a relationship. [01:07:57]

“May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.” (Psalm 25:21, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to demand a map instead of embracing daily dependence? How could waiting deepen your trust in God’s nearness?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 25 opens with David lifting up his soul and refusing the lie of the partial picture. A partial picture is an inaccurate picture, but the Lord holds the whole thing. The psalm insists that the difference between guidance and a Guide is everything: guidance is informational, a Guide is relational. The big idea lands simply: the more one knows God, the more God can guide that person.

David entrusts himself to God’s timing, not his own. “To you… in you… for you” sketches faith’s posture: waiting is not resignation but expectant looking, hoping, and listening. When enemies swell and assumptions multiply, the text calls the disciple to trust the God who sees what cannot be seen and knows what cannot be known.

David then prays the prayer God always answers: “Make me to know your ways… teach me your paths… lead me in your truth.” That cry rises from someone who has had his fill of his own way. Psalm 25 presents guidance as something God does to a kind of person, not a technique to master. Empty hands get filled; full cups do not.

The psalm names the problem behind every problem: sin, the great I problem. “The sins of my youth” and “my transgressions” confess the self turned in on itself. Into that confession, the covenant word breaks in: chesed, God’s steadfast love. Under the old covenant David asks God to “remember not,” and the new covenant in Christ fulfills that plea once for all. Out of this chesed flow three impossibilities for God: he does not know a sinner so bad he cannot change, a promise so big he cannot keep, or a sin so great he cannot forgive.

Two prerequisites shape a guided life. The fear of the Lord is not mouse-to-cat dread but filial awe that reorders desires and settles the soul in well-being; it also plants deep seeds in the next generation. Then comes the friendship of the Lord, the secret counsel reserved for those who fear him. Psalm 25 trains that friendship by teaching the church how to speak to God and how to let God speak back.

Finally, David seeks not a map but presence. He does not ultimately ask for directions; he asks for God. God’s goal is not to shuttle a person from point A to point B, but to teach that person to walk with him in trust, moment by moment. A simple practice follows: take a short phrase from Psalm 25 and carry it as breath-prayer through the day, walking with the Guide who knows the whole picture.

Key Takeaways

1. Guidance comes with a Guide [37:44] God offers more than hints and steps; he offers himself. Information without communion breeds anxiety because partial pictures mislead. The guided life rests not on mastering a plan but on staying near a Person. Proximity to God, not clarity about outcomes, is where wisdom lands. [37:44]
2. Waiting is active hope in God [46:46] Biblical waiting is looking, not loitering. The disciple lifts the soul “to you… in you… for you,” trading frantic control for attentive expectancy. Delays are not wasted time but formation time, where strength, wisdom, and maturity take root. Hope watches God’s clock instead of staring at the problem’s face. [46:46]
3. Sin is the problem; chesed the cure [52:40] The I at the center of sin distorts judgment and desires, turning a person away from God’s light. Chesed, God’s covenant love, does what self-effort never can by restoring fellowship and reshaping affections. In Christ, the once-for-all sacrifice answers David’s “remember not” with decisive pardon. Real guidance flows where guilt is confessed and love is received. [52:40]
4. Fear births friendship and counsel [01:04:31] Reverent awe opens the inner room where God shares secret counsel. Fear of the Lord steadies a soul in well-being and spills blessing into future generations. Terror drives away, but holy reverence draws near and listens. Where God is weighted most, his whispers are heard best. [64:31]
5. No one, no promise, no sin is beyond him [56:18] God meets sinners to change them, keeps every word he makes, and pardons guilt greater than the stomach-knot can hold. Despair shrinks when the cross is seen for what it is, the sacrifice of infinite worth. Confidence rises not from self-improvement but from covenant faithfulness. A guided life stays small before mercy and bold under promise. [56:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:49] - Directions joke and Psalms trip
[35:30] - Partial picture principle
[36:44] - Big idea: know God, be guided
[39:57] - Public reading of Psalm 25
[42:43] - Trust over self and timing
[49:18] - Prayer: teach me your paths
[52:40] - Sin problem and chesed
[56:36] - No one beyond his change
[57:47] - God keeps covenant promises
[59:02] - No sin beyond Christ’s pardon
[61:11] - Fear of the Lord defined
[64:31] - Friendship and secret counsel
[67:57] - Presence over directions
[69:31] - Practice: breath prayers from Psalm 25

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Psalm 25 (ESV)
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame... (Read the full chapter together).

Observation Questions

In Psalm 25:1-3, David uses phrases like “to you,” “in you,” and “for you.” What do these prepositions reveal about his posture toward God?
The sermon emphasized that “waiting is active hope” rather than passive resignation ([46:46]). How does Psalm 25:5 (“For you I wait all the day long”) reflect this idea?
What repeated words or themes do you notice in Psalm 25:6-11, and how do they connect to the problem of sin and God’s response?
According to Psalm 25:14, what is the relationship between fearing God and receiving His “secret counsel”?

Interpretation Questions

Why might David pray, “Remember not the sins of my youth” (v. 7) if God already promises forgiveness? How does this connect to the idea of chesed (steadfast love)?
The sermon stated, “God’s goal is not to shuttle a person from point A to point B, but to teach them to walk with Him” ([01:09:00]). How does Psalm 25:4-5 (“Make me to know your ways… teach me your paths”) reflect this relational view of guidance?
How does the fear of the Lord (v. 12) differ from mere obedience to rules? What does it look like to fear God while also experiencing His friendship (v. 14)?
Psalm 25:3 says, “None who wait for you shall be put to shame.” What does it mean to be “put to shame” in this context, and how does waiting prevent it?

Application Questions

The sermon described “waiting” as “expectant looking, hoping, and listening” ([46:46]). What area of your life feels like a season of waiting right now? How could you shift from frustration to active hope in that situation?
David prays, “Make me to know your ways” (v. 4). Where have you been relying on your own understanding instead of seeking God’s wisdom? What practical step could you take this week to prioritize His ways over yours?
The phrase “sin is the great I problem” was used in the sermon ([53:24]). How might self-reliance or self-centeredness be distorting your perspective in a current struggle?
The practice suggested was to choose a short phrase from Psalm 25 as a “breath-prayer” ([01:09:31]). Which verse or phrase resonates most with you today? How will you incorporate it into your daily rhythm?
The sermon highlighted that “fear of the Lord… plants deep seeds in the next generation” ([01:03:28]). How could you model reverence for God in a way that influences others (e.g., family, friends, coworkers)?
Psalm 25:11 asks God to pardon guilt “for it is great.” Is there a specific regret or shame you’ve struggled to bring to God? How does the truth of Christ’s “once for all” sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) free you to release it?
The psalm ends with David seeking God’s presence over a map ([01:07:57]). What decision or uncertainty are you facing where you need to prioritize walking with God over demanding a detailed plan?

Sermon Clips

37s

#SinIsSelf

“The problem behind every problem is the same problem. It's the sin problem. It's easy to define, just look at the word s I n. The middle letter tells the whole story. I. Sin is the great I problem. I wanna define my own truth, not God. I wanna be the one who's the boss of me, not God. wanna live for what I wanna live for. I wanna be my own God. And the scriptures are very, very clear. Sin blocks us off from God. It alienates us from a relationship with God. Sin is all about me.”

41s

#CrossGreaterThanSin

“Listen, no matter how great the guilt, no matter how great the sin, no matter how great the shame, no matter how great the stain, the cross of Jesus is greater. Arthur Pink put it beautifully. Arthur Pink's reformed theologian put it this way. He said, the value of Christ's sacrifice was infinite because it was the sacrifice of a divine person. Therefore, it has value which is greater than all the sins of all put together. Reality is, friends, God invites us to know him. And the more I know him, the more he can guide me.”

42s

#WalkWithGod

“David is teaching us something vitally important that is so easy to miss. Here it is. David isn't ultimately asking God for directions. He's asking for God's presence. He doesn't want something from God, he wants God. More than anything, David wants what God wants, to walk with him in intimate friendship. So here's a little news flash friends. God doesn't want to just give you guidance and send you off on your merry way. God wants to be your guide so that you can walk with him down his way.”

29s

#WaitingRefines

“Listen, in order to make you strong, God will make you wait. In order to make you wise, God will make you wait. Order to make you more mature, God will make you wait. Some of you, you're waiting. Some of you are waiting for your love to be requited. It hasn't happened yet. Some of you are waiting for that acceptance letter or the callback. Some of you are waiting for that prayer to be answered. We're waiting.”

35s

#GuideOverMap

“It's true. It's not the same at all. In fact, let me ask you. Let's just say you went on a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Wouldn't that be awesome? So let me ask you, would you rather, a, would you rather get a map? You have to figure out for yourself, all by yourself, where are the great places to eat, the safe places to go, and the cool sites to see. Would you rather have a map? Or b, would you rather have a reliable guide who takes you around to all the cool restaurants and safe places and cool sites? Me? I want the guide. Give me the guide all day long.”

44s

#TrustGodsTiming

“So rather than a passive resignation, well, it is what it is. Trusting God literally is active. Looks to God for God's wisdom, for God's presence, for God's leadership in the situation. In fact, bible commentator Warren Wiersbe put it this way. Wiersbe said, when the outlook is bleak, try the outlook. Look to God. Lift up your soul to him. So let me ask you, do you trust God's timing? Because trusting God means trusting God's timing.”

29s

#SteadfastLove

“So God doesn't know a person so bad he can't change them. Second thing, God doesn't know a promise so big he can't keep it. Verse 10, all the paths of the Lord, all of them are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. So again, steadfast love. Chesed, covenant relationship with the God who is a God of love. In other words, God does not withhold his love. He invites us into it.”

39s

#HealthyFearOfGod

“The fear of the Lord listen, if you're a parent, the best thing you can do for your children is not lecture them, is live out a healthy fear of the Lord. His offspring shall inherit the land. The best thing you could do for your children is to model what it means to have awe in God, fear of God in a healthy way, respect and reverence for God. Turns out friends, fear of God softens our hearts to God. I'll say it again. Fear of God softens our hearts to God.”

28s

#GodGuidesNotPunishes

“I think a lot of people are like that. I feel like the idea of just God in general must be out to get them because life is frustrating and God must just be out to get me. The And truth is, listen, God is not out to get you. God is out to guide you and he's going to get your attention to do that. When life is confusing, when it's overwhelming, when you don't know what to do, God doesn't want to just give you guidance to go on your merry way. He wants to guide you.”

15s

#GodSeesItAll

“Now here's the fact, God sees what you cannot see. God knows what you do not know. And rather than give you guidance, what God would rather do is be your guide.”

36s

#TrustAndBeTransformed

“And when we come to God saying, I've had it with my ways. I want your ways. I've had it with my wisdom. I want your wisdom. Guess what? God will answer that prayer every time. The fact is everyone trusts something, and only God knows everything and only God can be trusted. And the reality is for us, the more I know God, the more he can guide me. What does that look like? Well, God guides those who trust him more than themselves. But secondly, God guides those who allow him to change them. God guides those who allow him to change them.”

53s

#ComeWalkWithJesus

“But in the same way, in making our way through this life, what we do not need is a brochure. What we do not need is directions. What we do not need is a map. We need a guide. Someone who sees it all. Oh, and who also loves us enough to walk us every step of the way. When we're good, when we're not so good. When we're easy to relate with, when we're not so easy to relate with. How can we ever find such a person? Well, his name is Jesus. And he loves you more than any other person. He is calling out to you today. Come to me. Walk with me. Let me be your guide. Let me be your savior. Let me be your God. Let's pray together.”

37s

#TeachMeYourWays

“Make me to know your ways, oh Lord. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth. Teach me for you are the God of my salvation. For you I wait all the day long. Notice all the yous. It's not Italian. Notice all the yous. There's five of them. And David cries out to God in prayer. God, I wanna know your ways. I wanna know your paths. I wanna know your truth. Why is why is David crying out like this? Well, here's why. Because David has had his fill of his own way.”

38s

#FearOfTheLordIsWisdom

“Well, God isn't saying that we should cower in dread of his presence or be in terror of God's presence. In fact, when you look at the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, we see the statement, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom numerous times. Proverbs one seven, Proverbs nine ten, Psalm one eleven verse 10. Now fear of the Lord is not fear in the way that the mouse fears the cat. Fear of the Lord is the way is the fear in the way in which a child revere, respects, and is in awe of their loving and wise parent.”

23s

#TrustMoreThanYourself

“God guides those who trust him more than themselves. Now by show of hands, how many of you'd figured out that the more you know, the more you know, you don't know? Have you figured that out? It's like the more we learn, the more we realize we just don't know. And so here's a reminder. When it comes to what you don't know, it's a lot more than you think.”

35s

#TooFullOfSelf

“Younger me thought I knew plenty. Would you agree that younger you thought you knew plenty? a result, I look back and I see a lot of painful mistakes. Not just pain in my life, but in the lives of other people because I thought I knew better and I was wrong. Is it just me? Anybody else have this experience in life? You see, it wasn't that we weren't smart enough. Listen. It's that we're too full of self. We're just too full of self.”

31s

#LiftYourSoulToGod

“So I ask you, what when it all falls apart and it all hits the fan, what do you lift up your soul to? And the answer is the thing that you trust in. And the truth is there are many of you here today, you feel beat down. Maybe spiritually, maybe relationally, maybe emotionally or mentally, feel beat down. Maybe you feel like you've got all kinds of enemies. Could be a bitter family member. Could be an ex friend or a horrible boss or coworker or a bully. So what do we do? We react.”

26s

#CryOutToGod

“So let me ask you, have you ever come to that place in life where you've had your fill of your own way? Have you ever come to that place in life, you had your fill of what you can know? You had your fill of what you can do. You had your fill of what you can understand. And the reality is when you find yourself at that place where you've had the fill of your own way, you will cry out to God. And guess what? Here's some good news. God always responds to the prayer.”

28s

#TrustAndWait

“And what do you do when you're waiting? And I want you to notice if you're looking at the Psalm, those first three verses give a picture of waiting. Notice the prepositional phrases, to you, in you, for you. I lift up my soul to you. I trust in you. I wait for you. That's what faith looks like. So it's trusting God's timing. Second thing is trusting God's wisdom. Look at verses four and five.”

27s

#RespondWithFaith

“So what do we do? We react. React by doing what? Well, typically, we react by lifting up our soul to whatever will make the problem go away or whatever will make the pain of the problem go away. Now because God knows it all and God sees the whole picture, listen, you can trust him. But when it comes to trusting God with the things that we don't know, it takes a very particular form.”

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What distinguishes a guide from guidance

How does fear of the Lord guide

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Summer in the Psalms - Week 2: “When I Need God's Guidance”

Devotional

Day 1: When the Picture Lies: Trusting God’s Full View

Day 2: A Reliable Guide, Not Just a Roadmap

Day 3: The “I” Problem: Letting God Empty Our Cup

Day 4: Healthy Fear, Intimate Friendship

Day 5: Wanting the Guide, Not Just the Guidance

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Summer in the Psalms - Week 2: “When I Need God's Guidance”

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